Disclaimers: All characters belong to rightful owners.
Story concieved by Lee.


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"Well, at least you have some sense, then..." Mune muttered in Alexei's direction as he met the boy's scowl. Of course, it wasn't that he was seriously suggesting that the boy be subjected to Sui's affections--that wasn't really something he'd wish on anyone... and _not_ because it was something he only wanted for himself. Really. No really; more it was just that it would be amusing to see the pimp being bitten and such for once. Still, he let these thoughts spin out as the little girl and the old man re-entered the place and, sliding back into his seat beside Tesu, he reached for his soda. After all, when it came down to it, there was little that he could do, other than just piss Sui off enough to, maybe, forget the whole ordeal.

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Nevan, obviously oblivious to the animosity thick in the air, crossed over to Shittsui and, smiling almost sheepishly, he tipped his head at the other.

"Excuse me, Mister Barano?" He asked softly as he glanced to the elder. "Could I talk with you for a moment?"

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"Not really... I mean, I did leave before him." Kisoku bit his lip, deep in thought. Finding Sam would be difficult in the big city, though there were only so many places where the kid would go.

"Well, he wanted us to help him help Gleda with seasonal treats for the kiddies... so we could just wait for him there. Or, we could see how far my bloodhound instincts will go... got anything with his scent on it?"

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"Nope," Lukas chuckled, shaking his head, "Only you... an' that kid you were both tryin' to corrupt outside the pizza place... So... I guess that just leaves Gleda and the seasonal treats... which, knowin' Sammy, that alone should bring him runnin' 'fore long." As he headed off, back in the direction of the park, he turned to his companion, an unmistakeable look of wistful hope on his face, "Think Gleda'll be willin' to spare a few of those to-die-for chocolate chip cookies of hers for a couple of Santa's goofiest reindeer?"

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"Possibly... especially for the reindeer with the reddest nose of all!" Kisoku grinned, pinching his friend's nose between his index and middle finger. "I told you to lay off the egg nog last year, Rudolph."

He grinned and, freeing the other's nose, began to trek towards the park... oh, the park. Kisoku could only hope that Kein had left the entire vicinity by the time they got there, but just in case...

"Hey Lukes, if a guy dressed in a business suit tries to talk to me, and I looked thoroughly pissed at him, just slug him one for me, please? We could even have a secret code sign. I'll play with my hair or something, and then you bring the pain. It'd be swell..." He scowled, turning his face away from the redhead. He wasn't about to let his bandmate know anything else about the Kein situation other than the fact that it royally pissed off the Capulet heir. "And don't ask. Just don't ask."

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"Pfft! That wasn't eggnog, Kiso..." Lukas grinned, "It 'as straight bourbon. Why you think Santa ground me an' put Donner at the head of the team last year, eh?" Chuckling, he again fell into step with his friend, a companionable silence falling between them as they continued making their way to the park.

When Kisoku finally spoke again, Lukas opened his mouth to make one of his standard wisecracks, but a glance at the blonde's face as he turned away caused the Cajun to change his mind. Had someone been harassing Kiso earlier? Was that why his friend had been in such a... state... when they'd run into each other on the street a little while ago? The beginnings of a dark scowl settled over the redhead's features; true, he and Kiso didn't always get along that great... but the man was still his bandmate... and his friend... and if some schmo thought they could mess with one of *his* friends... well... he'd be more than happy to show them the error of their ways.

Stopping in his tracks, Lukas reached out, grabbing Kisoku by the elbow, turning the other man around to face him. "Someone been messin' with you, Kiso?" he asked gently. Grinning wolfishly, he continued, "You see him again, don't bother with no signals... just say, 'That's him, Luke. Go kick his ass.' Okay, budreau?"

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Kisoku let out an audible "eep" as he was pulled back. "Right. 'Go kick his ass.' Got it. Thanks."

He pulled his elbow away from the other and continued his walk down the street. Maybe someday he'd explain some of the Montague situation to Lukas... he was a good friend. He did care. Maybe someday... but not at that moment in time. "I hope Sam is alright... was he really upset when I left? Shit. That was stupid of me. I could've at least just yelled at you or cursed 'yo mama' or something instead of running off like that."

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Lukas shrugged, allowing Kisoku to change the subject. If he didn't want to discuss whoever had been bothering him, Lukas certainly didn't feel like he had the right to try to force a confidence from the other man.

"Well... yeah..." he admitted ruefully, "but I don't think he was pissed at you, Kiso..." Lukas sighed wearily; if Sam had been pissed at anyone it would've been at himself, for the shitty things he'd said to Kiso. He half thought about just turning around and heading for home... but the thoughts of what was waiting there for him weren't any better, really.

"Probably just as well that you didn't," Luke replied, chuckling at Kisoku's last comment. "The mood I've been in today... I'd of probably decked your skinny ass..."

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"Yeah, well you do have a fiery temper, babe, but it makes you all the cuter!" Kisoku winked at his friend. "Still, I think I'd've looked good with a black eye. Would've made me look all vulnerable and cute!"

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Lukas chuckled, "Yeah... An' I'm sure that the fact that it'd also get you a whole heap o' sympathy from your adorin' fans'd never entered your head, eh, blondie?"

Frowning slightly, he contemplated Kisoku's comment about his temper. He'd always believed himself to be a fairly even-tempered individual, given only to the occasional bouts of anger that everyone suffered from once in awhile. But then... he'd only known Kiso a couple of years... since right around the time his parents had begun to... change... Perhaps he *had* become angrier since then... more prone to fly off the handle at the slightest provocation - he'd certainly been under enough stress lately to keep him in a permanent berserker mode, that was for damn sure...

Turning to Kisoku, he asked hesitantly, "Kiso... do I really seem that hot-headed to you?"

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"Hmmm, good question." Kisoku paused in mid-stride to ponder this. "Well, not really--exception being today. You were PMSing worse than me! You don't get angry often, but when you do... oh boy, watch out!"

He pinched his friend on the cheek before continuing to walk. "Don't worry about it. I think it's rather sweet the way you turn all schoolyard bully over Sammy Wammikins. If I had the guts and brawn, I'd probably do the same. Unfortunately, my frailty tends to get in the way. This may come as a shock to you, but I'm really quite feminine!" He turned to wink at his friend, before quickly adding. "Note the obvious sarcasm."

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Lukas blinked at Kisoku's idle comment regarding his protectiveness of Sam. Okay... that was getting just a bit too close for his own comfort.

"I... don't know what you're talkin' 'bout.." the Cajun muttered, turning his face away slightly as he felt a faint blush tinging his cheeks. "I don't like anyone messin' with *any* of my friends," he added, "I'd act just the same if I saw someone gettin' on *your* case, Kiso..."

Chuckling at his friends remark concerning his femininity, Lukas flourished a bow before jokingly offering his arm to the blonde. "Well... in that case, m'lady... shall we hie ourselves to yon park 'fore good Queen Gleda dispenses all her wealth of cookies onto the undeservin' village urchins?"

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Ah, this was a game that Kisoku was all too happy to play. He curtsied and delicately linked his arm with the other's. "Oh yes, m'lord! We must make haste!"

The blonde giggled and pulled his arm back to his side. Giving a quick sideways glance to his friend, he blurted out a quick "race ya" before bolting off down the street...

...and by the time he got to the park, he was too out of breath to care whether or not he had won. "Fuck...I really need... to cut down... on the cigs."

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Rolling his eyes, Lukas set off after his friend at a sort of half- hearted jog... which he abandoned after about half a block, settling instead for a brisk walk to cover the remaining distance. His long legs enabling him to cover more ground more quickly than the more petite Kisoku, Lukas managed to make it to the park entrance not too long after the hyperventilating blonde.

After quickly scanning the crowd of holiday revellers for any sign of their missing musketeer, Lukas turned an amused glance onto his friend and snorted, "It's not the smokes, Kiso... it's the runnin'... that shit'll kill you..." After a moment, he added, "You gonna be okay, or should I call for an ambulance?"

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"I'll be fine..." Kisoku replied, as he started to catch his breath. "Though you might just have to give me mouth-to-mouth, just to be on the safe side."

He giggled at his joke and gave the other a playful wink, before looking around. "No sign of Sammie... where do you think Gleda is?"

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"Mouth to mouth, eh?" Lukas repeated, shaking his head in mock gravity, "You'd be a doomed man, budreau..." he replied, cracking a teasing grin.

Scanning the area for signs of Sam or his stepmother, Lukas shrugged. "No clue, mon ami... my guess'd be find the biggest knot of squealin', screamin' rugrats all covered in cookie crumbs an' chances are, you'll find Gleda at the center of it..."

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If Mousy could purr, he would have at the comfort of his new friend's hand. Sasurai sighed and, looking from the comer of her eye, glanced at Lem and made a faint, nervous smile at seeing him murmur reassurances to Mousy. Looking down at her hands, she noticed that she was trembling at the new situation and quickly rubbed her hands together as if to pass it off that she was cold instead of fidgety.

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"Hmph, don't push your luck there Sam. After all, I am a woman of modesty." Lucia let out a cheerful laugh. Samael... Samael was hers again, well, almost hers. He'd be hers soon enough, once he came to his senses. Things were taking an unexpected turn for the better.

"Hey Sam... aren't those your friends?" She blinked, pointing at two young men wandering about the park.

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"Woman of modesty, huh?" Sam chuckled at this as he gave Luc's hand another quick squeeze. Enjoying the lingering surreality of the situation, it only seemed right that he be walking, ever so casually, down the street, with a girl who just confessed that she was Satan incarnate. Grinning, he leaned in so as to purr to the girl's ear. "Well, you know, those're the most fun to corrupt..."

"Hmm? My friends?" He tipped his head and, picking a direction at random, he ran toward where--he hoped, at least--Lukie and Sempai were. "LUUUUKKKIIIIIEE! SEEEMMMPPPAAAIII!"

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"Damn fool's gonna break his neck... or someone else's..." Lukas grumbled, half-exasperated, half-amused, as his best friend raced hell-for-leather directly *away* from where Kisoku and himself were standing, joyfully shouting their names. Nearly breathless with laughter, Lukas set off after his friend at a rather ungainly lope, nearly losing his footing on several occasions due to the mad paroxysms of mirth that made all movement difficult.

"Sammy, you numbfuck!" Lukas shouted, his words nearly incoherent from laughter, "We're back HERE!"

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